Political Insider Blog

Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett was downright giddy. He said President-elect Donald Trump's opposition to the two-state solution and support for unfettered settlement construction means "The era of a Palestinian state is over."

American Jews are more supportive of resuscitating the peace process than the current right-wing Israeli government, but they have more urgent worries about a Trump administration.

There will be 31 Jewish members of the 115th Congress, which convenes January 3, 2017, including nine senators. That's an increase of two from the current representation.

The number of Republican Jews will double – to two – with the election of David Kustoff of Tennessee's 8th Congressional District. Interestingly, Memphis' adjoining 9th District is also represented by a Jew, Democrat Steve Cohen.

The other Jewish Republican is Lee Zeldin of New York, who was just elected to a second term.

There will be 31 Jewish members of the 115th Congress, which convenes January 3, 2017, including nine senators. That's an increase of two from the current representation.

The number of Republican Jews will double – to two – with the election of David Kustoff of Tennessee's 8th Congressional District. Interestingly, Memphis' adjoining 9th District is also represented by a Jew, Democrat Steve Cohen.

The other Jewish Republican is Lee Zeldin of New York, who was just elected to a second term.

Donald Trump's victory may be good news for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who congratulated the president-elect and called him a "true friend" of Israel, but it is bad news for the overwhelming majority of American Jews, who voted (71-24) for Hillary Clinton.

Beyond boasting about his deal-making skills and saying he could be an impartial broker in Israeli-Palestinians, Trump has shown no real interest in reviving the peace process; neither have Israeli and Palestinian leaders. The Israeli right is delighted.

It seems the Clark County, Nevada, registrar kept the polls open at an early voting location so that everyone who wanted to could have a chance to vote. Trump is outraged. Polls were scheduled to stay open until 8 pm on November 4 but stayed open to accommodate everyone who got in line until 10 p.m., reported Politico.